Pressure control well head for slanted bore holes

ABSTRACT

Well head assembly and apparatus accommodating the establishment, completion and maintenance of a pressure controlled well at an angle to the vertical. Flow lines and discharge conduits in horizontal positions are directly connectible to the housing of the well head assembly. Wear bushings, inner casings and tubing are suspended and sealed by parts inserted through a conventional blow-out preventer during drilling, cementing and well completing operations.

United States Patent Myers [.451 Aug. 1, 1972 [54] PRESSURE CONTROL WELL HEAD FOR SLANTED BORE HOLES [72] Inventor: Thomas A. Myers, 13702 Moon River Trail, Corpus Christi, Tex. 78410 [22] Filed: July 15,1970

211 App]. No.2 62,738

52 us. 01 ..l66/89, 285/143 511 161. C1 ..F2lb 33/03 511 Field 61 Search ..166/75 R, 75 A, 86, 88, 89;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,451,493 6/1969 Storm ..l75/220 X 2,118,094 5/1938 McDonough et a1. ..166/89 X 2,546,638 3/1951 Humason ..166/88 3,134,610 5/1964 Musolf ..166/88 X 3,310,107 3/1967 Yancey ..285/133 R X 3,354,962 11/1967 Pierce ..l66/89 3,489,439 l/ 1970 Word ..l66/89 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 712,422 6/1965 Canada 166/89 Primary Examiner-James A. Leppink Attorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacob S01] [5 7] ABSTRACT Well head assembly and apparatus accommodating the establishment, completion and maintenance of a pressure controlled well at an angle to the vertical. Flow lines and discharge conduits in horizontal positions are directly connectible to the housing of the well head assembly. Wear bushings, inner casings and tubing are suspended and sealed by parts inserted through a conventional blow-out preventer during drilling, cementing and well completing operations.

9 Claim, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENIEnws H972 3.680.632

SHEET 1 UF 3 Q II l l llllfil ll Thomas A. Myers PAIENTEDws nan sum 2' UP 3 J Thomas A. Myers PAIENIEDAUI; I I912 SHEET 3 OF 3 Fig.8

Thomas A. Myers PRESSURE CONTROL WELL HEAD FOR SLANTED BORE HOLES This invention relates to the installation and maintenance of well head equipment and apparatus for a pressure controlled well by means of which subterranean reserves are recovered.

Conventional well head equipment are unsuitable for slanted well bores associated with pressure controlled well head applications because of binding or hang-up of inserted apparatus within the base of the blow-out preventer utilized in this type of installation. Also in connection with slanted well bore installations, auxiliary pipe connections are required between the slanted well head and the horizontal flow lines and discharge pipes normally available for conducting fluids to and from the well head installation. It is therefore an important object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus by means of which installation of a pressure controlled well head is simplified particularly in connection with slanted well bore installations.

In accordance with the present invention, a special adapter housing is attached to the upper end of a bore hole casing particularly suited for insertion into a slanted bore hole or one having a longitudinal axis deviating from the gravitational vertical by as much as 60. During drilling and cementing operations, tools may be inserted into the casing through a conventional blow-out preventer attached to the adapter housing. One or more tube strings and an inner casing are also inserted with a suspension and sealing unit attached for subsequent suspension and sealing of the tube strings within the adapter housing. Thus, the well may be completed without removal of the blow-out preventer. Upon completion of the well, the suspension and sealing unit supporting the inner casing is locked in a fixed position within the adapter housing and a sealing unit with an inner tube string may be inserted, to seal the housing. The blow-out preventer may then be replaced by a pressure control head through which fluids may be conducted from the inner tube string. Fluids may also be conducted from the annular casing space or pumped into the space by flow lines and discharge pipes directly connected to the adapter housing.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. I is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section of a well head assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section of the well head assembly in an initial stage of installation.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing an intermediate installational stage for the well head assembly.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing a subsequent installational stage for the well head assembly.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 5-5 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 7-7 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the inner tube suspension device associated with the well head assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a casing setting tool associated with the installational stage shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 10-10 in FIG. 3.

FIG.v 11 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken substantially througha plane indicated by section line 1l1l in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 illustrates a completed installation of the well head assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. This well head assembly generally denoted by reference numeral 10 includesa pressure control head section generally referred to by reference numeral 12 which is bolted or' secured to an adapter housing generally denoted by reference numerall4 to which a plurality of conduit connectors 16 and 18 are secured as by welding. The conduit connectors are. adapted to be bolted by flange assemblies 20 to flow lines or discharge pipes by means of which fluid is conducted away from the wellhead assembly to an external location or pumped into the well head assembly in accordance with conventional well headv operations. It will be noted from FIG. 1, that theadapter housing 14 and the pressure control head 12 are aligned along a longitudinal axis disposed at an angle to the gravitational vertical of an associated bore hole adapted to be lined by the outer bore hole casing 22 secured to the lower end 24 of the adapter housing 14. The conduit connectors 16 and 18 as well as the outlet portion 24 of the pressure control head, extend horizontally from the well head assembly substantially perpendicular to the vertical so as to eliminate the need for additional intermediate connectors.

At itslower end24, the adapter housing 14 isinternally dimensioned to receive the upper end of the outer casing 22. An internal beveled shoulder 26 is formed within the housing axially above the casing 22 in order to seat and thereby axially fix a suspension and sealing unit generally referred to by reference numeral 28 which includes a tubular hanger member 30 and an annular sealing device 32. The suspension and sealing unit 28 is operative when locked. within. the adapter housing, to suspend an inner casing 34 threadedly connected to the lower end portion 36 of the hanger 30 and to seal the annular space 38 between the casings 34 and 38 in fluid communication with a conduit fitting 40 that conducts fluid to or from the annular space 38 through a port 42 fonned in the housing just below the .annular sealing device 32. The welds on the housing string through the pressure control head. O-ring seals 62 are accordingly mounted within the sealing flange about the fitting 60 on either axial side of a pressure test bore 64 closedby the plug 66.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4 and 8, the inner tube suspension device '52 also includes a lower conical member 68 adapted to abut the suspension and sealing unit- 28 when installed for axial load transfer purposes. The lower conical member 68 is provided with ribs 70 between which flow passages 72 are formed establishing fluid communication between the ports 74 and 76 in the housing and the annular space 78 between the inner tube string 54 and the inner casing 34. The ports 74 and 76 are'in fluid communication with the conduit connectors 16 and 18 secured 'by welding to the adapter housing as aforementioned. An elastomer sealing'element 80 is sandwiched between the member 68 and a member 82. Fastener elements 84 hold the parts assembled. Themember. 82 is secured by a setscrew 88 to the fitting 60 which is threadedly mounted within the bore of the sealing flange 56.

In order to hold the abutting tube suspension device 52 and suspension and sealing unit 28 axially fixed within the adapter housing 14, a plurality of locking assemblies 90 are mounted in the upper flange portion 58 of the housing as shown in FIG. 1 in order to engage the suspension device 52 while other locking assemblies 92 are mounted by'the adapter housing intermediate the ends for engagement with the upper end of the sealing device 32as more clearly seen in FIG. 11. All of the locking assemblies 90 and 92 are similar in construction and include an inner threaded end portion 94 threadedly mounted within a transverse threaded bore which opens into the central bore of the adapter housing. Thus, the threaded end portion 94 may be axially adjusted through its external squared end 96 by use of a tool in order to engage the upper axial end portion of the suspension device 52 as shown in FIG. 1. The shank portion 98 of the locking assembly extends through packing I and an externally threaded packing nut 102 by means of which leakage through the locking assembly is prevented.

The locking assemblies 90 may also be utilized to hold a protective wear bushing 104 within the adapter housing as shown in FIG. 2 during drilling operations for example, prior to installation of and suspension of the inner casing and tube string. The wear bushing will accordingly be seated at its lower end on the internal beveled shoulder 26 of the adapter housing and will be provided-with perforations 106 intermediate the ends thereof so as to accommodate fluid communication *between the casing 22 and the conduit connectors 16 and 18 through ports 74 and 76. The wear bushing is externally grooved at 108 for reception of the inner .ends of the locking assemblies 94 and is provided with aninternal one-waylockinggroove 110 adapted to be engaged by radially outwardly biased one-way ratchet elements 112 carried on a bushing setting and retrieving tool 114. Thus, with the adapter housing 14 attached to a conventional blow-out preventer 116 as shown in FIG. 2, the wear bushing 104 may be inserted through the blow-out preventer and locked in place within the adapter housing in order to protect the inside surfaces of the housing during drilling operations. The upper end of the wear bushing is provided with an internal guide bevel 118 for guiding the insertion and retrieval of tools. After drilling operations have been completed, the wear bushing may be retrieved b means of the pulling tool 114.

The suspension and sealing unit 28 may also be inserted into the housing 14 through the blow-out preventer 116 by use of a casing setting tool 120 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. The setting tool 120 includes a tubular member 122 from which radial guide fins 124 project and dimensioned for a sliding fit within housing 14. The lower end portion 126 of the setting tool is externally threaded for threaded connection to the hanger 30 associated with the unit 28. The hanger 30 with the sealing device 32 slidably mounted thereon is thereby inserted into the adapter housing 14 in order to insert the inner casing 34 which is threadedly connected to its lower end 36. The upper perforated end 128 of the hanger is funnel-shaped and constitutes a load transfer portion which engages the lower converging end of the setting tool asshown in FIG. 3. The sealing device 32 which is inserted as a unit with the hanger is held thereon by means of a shear pin 130 received in an external groove 132 formed in the hanger member for this purpose as shown in FIG. 3 and 10. The shear pin 130 extends radially inwardly from the lower end portion 134 of the annular sealing device which is provided with spaced annular resilient sealing elements 136 sandwiched between the end portion 134 and an upper'beveled end portion 138, all of said parts being held together by fasteners 140. The sealing elements 136 therefore are efiective to seal the annular space 38 between the casings 22 and 34 when the suspension and sealing unit 28 is locked within the adapter housing 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Prior to being locked within the adapter housing, the unit 28 with the casing; 34 attached can be reciprocated during cementing operations if so desired. When the unit 28 is set within the housing 14 as shown in FIG. 1, after the well has been cemented and the axial casing load is applied the weight will cause the sealing unit to abut the upper funnel end 128 of the hanger 30 in order to seal the annular space 38 after which the unit is locked in place between the locking assemblies 92 and the beveled shoulder 26 of the housing as aforementioned.

The inner tube suspension device 52 with the fitting 60 and inner tubing 54 attached, may also be inserted through the blow-out preventer as shown in FIG. 4.

When inserted, a back pressure valve 142 is mounted within the fitting 60 forpressure control purposes. Thus, upon completion of the well the sealing device 52 is installed and the sealing flange 56 applied to attach the pressure control head 12.

Although the installation described is particularly suited for slant well operations, it will be appreciated that it will be equally desirable for vertical well installations. The construction of the well head furthermore is such that it is not necessary to remove the blow-out preventer during any phase of operations through drilling and completion of the well. This represents a considerable reduction in rig time and savings to the operator in addition to having complete blow-out protection and pollution control at all times. Although a single inner tube string has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that the installation is also adaptable for a plurality of inner tube strings enclosed within the inner casing.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with an outer bore hole casing within a well, a head assembly to which the outer casing is connected at an upper end comprising a housing secured to and coaxially aligned with said outer casing, a tube string extending from the housing into the easing, means for suspending the outer casing from the housing, conduit connecting means extending horizontally from the housing for conducting fluid between locations externally of the housing and internally of the outer casing and means slidably mounted on the suspending means below the conduit connecting means for preventing leakage of fluid conducted through the conduit connecting means, said suspending means including a tubular hanger having a lower end and an upper funnel end, and a tube suspension device sealing the housing above the conduit connecting means having a lower conical end abutting the hanger within the upper funnel end thereof and an upper end portion from which the tube string is suspended, the lower conical end of the tube suspension device having flow passages extending therethrough establishing fluid communication with the conduit connecting means.

2. The combination of claim 1 including locking means mounted by the housing for holding the suspending means in an axially fixed position within the housing.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis disposed at an acute angle to the horizontally extending conduit connecting means.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pressure sealing means includes an annular sealing device slidably mounted on the hanger for axial displacement into engagement with the upper funnel end.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the upper funnel end of the tubular hanger is perforated.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis disposed at an acute angle to the horizontally extending conduit connecting means.

' 7. In combination with a bore hole casing within a well, well head assembly to which the casing is connected at an upper end comprising a housing secured to and coaxially aligned with said casing, a tube string extending from the housing into the casing, means for suspending the tube string from the housing, conduit connecting means extending horizontally from the housing for conducting fluid between a location externally of the housing and the casing and means for pressure sealing the suspending means to prevent leakage of fluid conducted rough the ,cordgit connecting means, said suspen ng means me u ing a tubular hanger having a lower end and an upper funnel end, and a tube suspension device having a lower conical end abutting the hanger within the upper funnel end thereof, the lower conical end of the tube suspension device having flow passages extending therethrough establishing fluid communication with the conduit connecting means, including locking means mounted by the housing for holding the suspending means in an axially fixed position within the housing, said pressure sealing means including an annular sealing device slidably mounted on said tubular hanger axially fixed within the housing in abutment with the locking means and a sealing flange secured to the housing in enclosing relation to the tube string.

8. In combination with a tubular well head housing having opposite axial ends and an outlet port intermediate said ends, a tubular hanger positioned within the housing between one of said ends and the outlet port, a sealing device engageable with the housing for sealing the same between the outlet port and the other of the ends thereof, an inner tube, means for suspending the inner tube from the sealing means adjacent said other of the ends of the housing to axially load the sealing means, pressure sealing means movably mounted on the tubular hanger for preventing leakage between the outlet port and said one of the ends of the housing in response to axial loading thereof, and load transfer means mounted on the hanger for abutment by the sealing device and the pressure sealing means.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said load transfer means comprises a perforated funnel formation. 

1. In combination with an outer bore hole casing within a well, a head assembly to which the outer casing is connected at an upper end comprising a housing secured to and coaxially aligned with said outer casing, a tube string extending from the housing into the casing, means for suspending the outer casing from the housing, conduit connecting means extending horizontally from the housing for conducting fluid between locations externally of the housing and internally of the outer casing and means slidably mounted on the suspending means below the conduit connecting means for Preventing leakage of fluid conducted through the conduit connecting means, said suspending means including a tubular hanger having a lower end and an upper funnel end, and a tube suspension device sealing the housing above the conduit connecting means having a lower conical end abutting the hanger within the upper funnel end thereof and an upper end portion from which the tube string is suspended, the lower conical end of the tube suspension device having flow passages extending therethrough establishing fluid communication with the conduit connecting means.
 2. The combination of claim 1 including locking means mounted by the housing for holding the suspending means in an axially fixed position within the housing.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis disposed at an acute angle to the horizontally extending conduit connecting means.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said pressure sealing means includes an annular sealing device slidably mounted on the hanger for axial displacement into engagement with the upper funnel end.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the upper funnel end of the tubular hanger is perforated.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis disposed at an acute angle to the horizontally extending conduit connecting means.
 7. In combination with a bore hole casing within a well, well head assembly to which the casing is connected at an upper end comprising a housing secured to and coaxially aligned with said casing, a tube string extending from the housing into the casing, means for suspending the tube string from the housing, conduit connecting means extending horizontally from the housing for conducting fluid between a location externally of the housing and the casing and means for pressure sealing the suspending means to prevent leakage of fluid conducted through the conduit connecting means, said suspending means including a tubular hanger having a lower end and an upper funnel end, and a tube suspension device having a lower conical end abutting the hanger within the upper funnel end thereof, the lower conical end of the tube suspension device having flow passages extending therethrough establishing fluid communication with the conduit connecting means, including locking means mounted by the housing for holding the suspending means in an axially fixed position within the housing, said pressure sealing means including an annular sealing device slidably mounted on said tubular hanger axially fixed within the housing in abutment with the locking means and a sealing flange secured to the housing in enclosing relation to the tube string.
 8. In combination with a tubular well head housing having opposite axial ends and an outlet port intermediate said ends, a tubular hanger positioned within the housing between one of said ends and the outlet port, a sealing device engageable with the housing for sealing the same between the outlet port and the other of the ends thereof, an inner tube, means for suspending the inner tube from the sealing means adjacent said other of the ends of the housing to axially load the sealing means, pressure sealing means movably mounted on the tubular hanger for preventing leakage between the outlet port and said one of the ends of the housing in response to axial loading thereof, and load transfer means mounted on the hanger for abutment by the sealing device and the pressure sealing means.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said load transfer means comprises a perforated funnel formation. 